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Maryland’s largest freshwater lake turns 94

From WVNEWS

DEEP CREEK LAKE —Deep Creek Lake marks its 94th anniversary this year. With that in mind, the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce has provided the following information:

Deep Creek Lake is Maryland’s largest freshwater lake, covering 3,900 acres and 65 miles of shoreline. The man-made lake got its start in 1925 as the result of an effort undertaken by the Youghiogheny Hydro Electric Corporation to harness the power of Deep Creek, a tributary of the Youghiogheny River.

Large swaths of land were purchased, a 1,300-foot-long impoundment dam was constructed to stem the flow of water in Deep Creek, and thousands of trees were removed from the area so it could be flooded. In addition, 15 miles of primary and secondary roads were relocated.

To read the full article click here.

Boating safety doesn’t happen by accident

From The Baltimore Sun

Memorial Day marked the unofficial beginning of boating season in Maryland and elsewhere. Every weekend for the next few months, thousands of people will be out on the water across the state whether it’s Deep Creek Lake, the Chesapeake Bay or the Atlantic Ocean off Ocean City and Assateague Island. But the summer boating season is also certain to suffer its customary share of accidents and fatalities — most if not all of which are preventable.

This loss of life associated with recreational boating is surely among the most frustrating statistics in public health because it’s so avoidable. In many ways, it mirrors the daily carnage on the nation’s roads — with irresponsible behavior, including the boating equivalent of drunk driving and speeding, among the chief culprits. But arguably it’s worse. Americans take to the roads and expose themselves to the inherent risk out of necessity. Boating is a luxury. There’s absolutely no reason why people need to be placed in harm’s way if everyone behaves prudently.

Take, for example, life jackets, more properly known as personal flotation devices. Under Maryland law, children under the age of 13 must wear them while any vessel is underway, and that includes not just motorboats but sailboats, canoes, kayaks and rowboats. Yet in cases of drowning, what percentage of victims were found not to be wearing one? According to the U.S. Coast Guard, that would be 84.5 percent. That’s a problem, particularly given that about three-quarters of boating accident fatalities involve drowning.

To read the full article click here.

Boating Regulations here at Deep Creek Lake

Deep Creek Lake offers many wonderful opportunities. With the ever-increasing number of boaters, everyone shares responsibility for working together to ensure our waters are clean and safe. Invest the time to educate yourself in the necessary safe practices by reviewing the following laws and safety tips.

REGULATIONS SPECIFIC TO DEEP CREEK LAKE:

-Vessels may not exceed 26 feet in length, except pontoon boats, which may not exceed 30 feet.

-Vessels must be muffled so as not to exceed the state noise level limit of 88 decibels.

-Engines may not exceed the manufacturers’ recommended capacity or a displacement of 550 cubic inches- whichever is less.

-Houseboats are not permitted.

-Parasailing is not permitted.

-No garbage, sewage or other waste may be discharged into the water.

-Aircraft are prohibited on both the lake and buffer strip unless prior approval has been obtained from the Department of Natural Resources.

-Hovercraft and personal watercraft (Jet Skis, Sea Doos, etc.) may not be operated on the lake between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend, and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from July 1 through Labor Day.

 

 

4th Annual Deep Creek Lake Boat Parade

The Deep Creek Lake Lions Club will be hosting the 4th Annual Deep Creek Lake Boat Parade on July 2nd! Starting around 7 p.m., the boats will begin at the Deep Creek Marina Lakeside Club (in McHenry Cove) and sail to Silver Tree.

 

This event cannot be missed! Whether you are planning to view the boat parade or register your boat to be in it, it will be a great time. The Boardwalk, Lakeside Creamery, Uno’s & the Honi-Honi Bar are just a few fun places to view the event.

 For more information, click here.

Man charged in Deep Creek boat crash

Operator reportedly runs vessel aground at dam

Michael A. SawyersCumberland Times-News

MCHENRY — A 20-year-old Fallston man was tracked down and charged Wednesday morning after a wrecked and abandoned motorboat was discovered aground on the dam at Deep Creek Lake.

“Employees of the Brookfield Power Company were making their morning rounds when they saw the boat and called,” said Maryland Natural Resources Police Cpl. Walt May.

Using the registration number on the 20-foot Bayliner, police identified Michael Shawn Shannon as the owner. “Officer (A.) Felsecker found Shannon at his parents’ home (near the lake) about 9:30 a.m. He was charged with operating while under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation and underage possession of alcohol,” May said. Officer Glenn Broadwater worked the accident scene.

May said Shannon, who was accompanied in the boat by a friend, apparently operated the boat at full throttle in a very dark area of the lake. There were no injuries.

“We believe the accident took place about midnight,” May said. The boat was fully out of the water and had significant damage including a cracked fuel tank.

May estimated the boat was traveling 20 to 40 mph.

Director John Frank said he was the first responder at 8 a.m. after an alert that originated with the Maryland Department of the Environment downstate was transfered to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and then to Garrett County.

“Some fuel spilled into the lake, but was dissipated by wind and wave action. Floating absorbant booms were placed as well.”

Hazardous incident response teams from Garrett and Allegany counties arrived and drained the remaining 20 gallons of fuel from the boat’s tank.

Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.

More here.